What to do and see in Hilo, Hawaii (HI): The Best Tours

November 28, 2021 Augustus Redeker

The landscape of Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is diverse. Beaches of black, gray, brown and white sand give way to mountains and dramatic waterfalls. Hilo's Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo is the only U.S. zoo in a tropical rainforest. A day trip away are snow-capped Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, with observatories near 11,000 feet on both mountains, and Kilauea Caldera, an active volcano. Back in town are a farmer's market, restaurants, shopping and banyan trees planted by celebrities and politicians.
Restaurants in Hilo

1. Private Tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Apau Hawaii Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

This truly unique experience will be with you for the rest of your life as you enjoy the spectacular beauty exploring Volcanoes National Park. The sights, sounds and smell are like nowhere else on earth as you walk on actual lava (cooled, of course), descend through a rain forest and experience steam vents up close and personal. Meeting at the visitor center at Volcanoes National Park, we'll begin experiencing the amazing sights and sounds on top of the world's most active volcano. This truly will be an experience you will never forget! You can even choose a starting time at 5 AM to catch the sunrise over Kilauea. Another advantage to starting so early is having the park almost to ourselves! Let's share the beauty of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!

Inclusions: Bottled water, Driver/guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Airport pickup and drop-off, Hiking to active lava flow

Reviewed By D9605PHrandyc

Scott was the most informed tour guide. He answered all of our questions, and showed us things that we would have never seen or knkwn.

2. Big Island - North Island Jungle Driving Tour

Hilo, HI 96720, USA Shaka Guide: Audio Tour Apps
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Shaka Guide's driving tour app works like a tour guide in your car! On this tour drive along beautiful green coastlines, through tropical jungle roads, and go star gazing on the tallest mountain in the world. We've done our research so you will not miss a thing! Just sit back and listen to fun stories along the way. Skip the tour bus & explore Big Island at your own pace for a fraction of the cost with the best self-guided audio GPS tours for Hawaii! Rated the #1 best GPS tour app for Hawaii with over 6,000+ raving reviews and 200,000+ downloads. Why you need it: ✅ You don't need service because you can download the tours & use them offline ✅ Much cheaper than a tour bus at only $9.99 for lifetime access ✅ Save time planning your trip because we have the best stops lined up ✅ Freedom to stop and go as you please, unlike a tour bus where you are confined to the pre-determined route (no fun!) ✅ Hear cool and fun stories along the way (and some corny joke's that might make you laugh)

Inclusions: 6-8 hours of audio content, Offline map of the island, Audio that triggers based on location, Dozens of interesting stories of the island, Perfect itinerary of your entire vacation, Turn-by-turn navigation, Virtual tour guide

Exclusions: Crowded group tour

Reviewed By chanyu1

This is a good and inexpensive way to do the Haleakala sunset tour with audio narrative of things to see along the way to the mountain top. Good value for the price. A quick tip: this app burns through your phone battery fast so having a car phone cable is a must or else your phone battery will run out of juice pretty quick...

3. Volcano National Park Adventure from Waikoloa

Hawaii Geo Tours
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5.0 based on 13 reviews

• The only volcano tours guided by Geologists in Hawaii • Join us for a "Chance of a Lifetime" Adventure on our Volcano Tours. • Our Mercedes Vans offer a level of sophistication and comfort you won’t find in an ordinary shuttle bus. We transport our guests in luxury and class. • Adventure and fun with a real Geologist as your guide to the most active volcano in the world!

Inclusions: Coffee and/or Tea, Lunch, Snacks, We offer the use of backpacks, rain coats, and warm coats for night.

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Reviewed By 547kristinae

We had an awesome tour with Zane as our guide. He is very knowledgeable, sharing his love of geology, as well as the history of the island. We were able to enjoy so many highlights of this amazing island during our day tour including Volcanos National Park, climbing through a lava tube, stopping for fresh fruit at a local farmer's market in Hilo, and my personal favorite, viewing multiple beautiful waterfalls and the black sands beach along the way. We were able to plan our trip to include the sites that we were most interested in and Zane had a few surprises for us along the way. I would definitely recommend this tour, there are so many beautiful and interesting places to see on this island it would be impossible to see them all on your own. The van was clean and comfortable with great windows to view all the beautiful scenery along the way.

4. Turtles, Whales, Waterfall & Volcano with Delicious Lunch & Bakery Stops

Hele-On Mo'oheau Bus Terminal, 329 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, USA HANG OUT WITH A LOCAL
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5.0 based on 18 reviews

*A cruise ship-friendly activity. Contact Tara Pruett @ HANG OUT WITH A LOCAL with questions, for pickups outside of the range listed herein and for private tours! ALOHA! We offer a playful, genuinely local experience with a local guide. On this epic tour, you will see the major sites like the volcano, lava tube, and waterfall. You'll also enjoy lunch at an awesome lunch place and visit our beautiful Carlsmith Beach Park to scout for turtles and whales - all in one day - a rare find! As you're guided by our light-hearted, and knowledgeable local guide, you'll hear about daily living in Hawai'i and Hawaiian customs. You will be delighted with local snacks during the tour (the snacks are free), and we stop at the best place for lunch plus at a delicious bakery where we point out local favorites. Delicious and interesting! After that, we will go to a beautiful beach for spotting fish, turtles, and even humpback whales when in season! *Route may be altered based on the weather

Inclusions: Professional local guide, A visit to Kilauea Volcano on the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, A stop at Kilauea volcano steam vents, A walk through the Nahuku - Thurston Lava Tube, A stroll to the Volcanoes National Park sulfur vents, A viewing of the Kilauea volcano eruption when open to the public, A stop at a beautiful beach for turtle and whale watching (whale season: Nov- early May), A stop at the scenic Rainbow Falls, A local’s insight - an orientation - into top things to see & places to eat on the island, A visit to a local bakery and a stop at a popular local spot for culinary delights (own expense), A free sampling of Hawaiian chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and other local snacks, A small group size - a maximum of 14 guests - for a personalized experience, Transportation by air-conditioned car, minivan or passenger van, Convenient pickup and drop-offs from Hilo hotels, Bottled water, A stop at the historic King Kamehameha statue, A drive along they scenic Banyan Drive, A drive along Hilo’s beautiful beaches

Exclusions: Lunch (approximately $15-20), Gratuity, Route may be altered due to weather and when stops are closed to the public, Nature - lava, turtle and whale sightings - can not be guaranteed, Whale watching starts in November and ends in early May, Bakery goods

Reviewed By Resort735314

Toured with Tara and had a great time. Not only did we see fabulous spots in and near Hilo like the volcano, waterfalls and beaches with turtles but she explained a bit about the Hawaiian culture as well. The coffee, donut and candy shop interspersed were great little respites from the walking part if the tour. I highly recommend “Hanging with a local” to anyone visiting the Hilo area. You will not be disappointed.

5. PRIVATE Volcano-Turtles-Whales-Waterfall w Delicious Lunch Stop

Target, 74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA HANG OUT WITH A LOCAL
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

*A cruise ship-friendly activity. Contact Tara Pruett @ HANG OUT WITH A LOCAL with questions, for pickups outside of the range listed herein, for private tours & for last-minute tour requests! See the volcano, walk through a lava tube, visit a waterfall, plus scout for turtles and whales - all in one day - a rare find! We offer a playful, genuinely local experience with a local guide. As you're guided by our light-hearted, and knowledgeable local guide, you'll hear about daily living in Hawai'i and Hawaiian customs. You will be delighted with local snacks during the tour (the snacks are free), and we stop at the best place for lunch where we point out local favorites. Delicious and interesting! Search Tripadvisor for our listing: "Turtles, Whales, Waterfall & Lava Excursion with Epic Lunch & Bakery Stops" to find our glowing 5-star reviews.

Inclusions: Professional local guide, A visit to Kilauea Volcano on the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, A stop at Kilauea volcano steam vents, A walk through the Nahuku - Thurston Lava Tube, A stroll to the Volcanoes National Park sulfur vents, A viewing of a Kilauea volcano eruption when open to the public, A stop at a gorgeous black sand beach for turtle and whale watching (whale season: Nov- early May), A stop at the beautiful Rainbow Falls, A walk back in time in Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau where we will experience the Hawaiʻi of yesterday., A local’s insight - an orientation - into top things to see & places to eat on the island, A free sampling of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and other local snacks, Transportation by air-conditioned car, minivan or passenger van, Convenient pickup and drop-offs from Kailua-Kona and Waikoloa hotels, Bottled water

Exclusions: Gratuity, Lunch, Route may be altered due to weather and when stops are closed to the public, Nature - lava, turtle and whale sightings - can not be guaranteed, Whale watching starts in November and ends in early May, Bakery goods

Reviewed By Resort735314

Toured with Tara and had a great time. Not only did we see fabulous spots in and near Hilo like the volcano, waterfalls and beaches with turtles but she explained a bit about the Hawaiian culture as well. The coffee, donut and candy shop interspersed were great little respites from the walking part if the tour. I highly recommend “Hanging with a local” to anyone visiting the Hilo area. You will not be disappointed.

6. Mauna Kea Summit Adventure

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
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5.0 based on 20 reviews

Mauna Kea is an unforgettable and sublime location. It is the highest point in the entire Pacific basin and the clarity of the air is astounding. Mauna Kea is a major spiritual center for Hawaiians and many of our guests report a special feeling while on the mauna. We developed the now popular sunset and stargazing tours in 1983 and we have constantly made it more comfortable and educational. Our guides are trained to drive safely and to share their wide knowledge of Hawaii and the sky. Our vehicles (all custom Mercedes) are the nicest and roomiest available.

Inclusions: Hot and hearty vegetable (non-vegan) lasagna dinner w a delicious and special brownie(not included with the meal delete option), Hot drinks are provided including gourmet hot chocolate, tea (black or green), starbucks coffee and biscotti, Use of heavy winter parkas and insulated gloves. Call in your order for Sizes XXL-SM, Travel in custom built, oversized, Mercedes Sprinter micro-coaches, We use big, 11", digital telescopes to view the very best of the night sky. Conditions permitting, Learn about the geology, geography and cultural history as we drive though varied landscapes.

Exclusions: Weather is not guaranteed in any way. There will not be refunds for weather. , Customers are responsible for their own transportation to/from the pick up point.

Reviewed By travelingwithboys

The summit tour was the highlight of our trip to the Big Island. We normally don’t take tours, and prefer to adventure by ourselves, but this was an exception. Our guide (Mitch) was fantastic and Travis (in the other van) was the perfect guide for stargazing. It is worth every penny and time well spent while visit the Big Island! Highly recommend.

7. Volcano-Turtles-Whales-&-Waterfall-w-Delicious Lunch Stop

Target, 74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA HANG OUT WITH A LOCAL
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

*A cruise ship-friendly activity. Contact Tara Pruett @ HANG OUT WITH A LOCAL with questions, for pickups outside of the range listed herein, for private tours & for last-minute tour requests! See the volcano, walk through a lava tube, visit a waterfall, scout for turtles and whales - all in one day - a rare find! We offer a playful, genuinely local experience with a local guide. As you're guided by our light-hearted, and knowledgeable local guide, you'll hear about daily living in Hawai'i and Hawaiian customs. You will be delighted with local snacks during the tour (the snacks are free), and we stop at the best place for lunch where we point out local favorites. Delicious and interesting! Search Tripadvisor for our listing: "Turtles, Whales, Waterfall & Lava Excursion with Epic Lunch & Bakery Stops" to find our glowing 5-star reviews.

Inclusions: Professional local guide, A visit to Kilauea Volcano on the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, A stop at Kilauea volcano steam vents, A walk through the Nahuku - Thurston Lava Tube, A stroll to the Volcanoes National Park sulfur vents, A viewing of a Kilauea volcano eruption when open to the public, A stop at a gorgeous black sand beach for turtle and whale watching (whale season: Nov- early May), A stop at the beautiful Rainbow Falls, A walk back in time in Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau where we will experience the Hawaiʻi of yesterday., A local’s insight - an orientation - into top things to see & places to eat on the island, A free sampling of Hawaiian chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and other local snacks, A small group size - a maximum of 14 guests - for a personalized experience, Transportation by air-conditioned car, minivan or passenger van, Convenient pickup and drop-offs from Kailua-Kona and Waikoloa hotels, Bottled water

Exclusions: Approximately $15-20, Gratuity, Route may be altered due to weather and when stops are closed to the public, Nature - lava, turtle and whale sightings - can not be guaranteed, Whale watching starts in November and ends in early May

Reviewed By Resort735314

Toured with Tara and had a great time. Not only did we see fabulous spots in and near Hilo like the volcano, waterfalls and beaches with turtles but she explained a bit about the Hawaiian culture as well. The coffee, donut and candy shop interspersed were great little respites from the walking part if the tour. I highly recommend “Hanging with a local” to anyone visiting the Hilo area. You will not be disappointed.

8. Big Island Circle Tour and Volcano: Coffee, Wine, Waterfalls and Hamakua Coast

Kailani Tours Hawaii
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5.0 based on 125 reviews

The volcano, waterfalls, coffee, black sand beach, and a visit to a winery in one day! This is the best way to see the island, traveling in a luxury Sprinter and letting someone else do the driving. Continental breakfast, a deluxe lunch, a gourmet snack basket, water, juice and hot towel service all included! Explore the island with our expert guides while enjoying great coffee, a beautiful black sand beach, an active volcano, a mountainside winery and views of our lush and tropical Hamakua Coast. You deserve the best! You deserve Kailani Tours! Premium Coffee Farm (Greenwell Coffee) – Breakfast, Coffee Farm Tour, Tasting and Shopping Punalu'u Bake Shop - Tasty sweet treats made right here in Hawaii Punalu’u Black Sand Beach - View Resting Turtles from a Safe Distance Private Wine and Tea Tour at Volcano Winery - Deluxe Lunch and Complimentary Tastings Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Rainbow Falls Hamakua Coastline Drive Waikoloa Hotel Return Kona Hotels Return

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Professional guide, Kona Coffee Farm tour included (optional), Binoculars, Umbrellas, Cold beverages, hot coffee/chocolate, Lunch, Snacks

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By jan n

This was an all day excursion and so full of information and fun. Jim Carrey was the best tour guide ever. He was so knowledgeable about the Hawaiian culture and had plenty of Hawaiian legends to tell. I would do this tour with him again.

9. Hawaii Big Island Customized Private Tour

Hawaii Outdoor Guides
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5.0 based on 45 reviews

This tour allows full flexibility with a private guide and a spacious, air-conditioned van. Circle the island or spend more time at the places that are more interesting to you. Please contact us with locations you would like to visit or we are happy to provide a sample itinerary that you can customize for your group.

Inclusions: Professional guide, Hotel/port pickup and drop-off, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: Gratuities, Additional activities (zipline, helicopter, boat), Meals are not included but we will provide snacks and water

Reviewed By Sean M

Katie was a superb guide. She took great care of us, and was very knowledgeable about Hawaiian history. We really enjoyed the tour of Volcano National Park.

10. Small Group Waipio Valley and Waterfalls Adventure

Kailua-Kona, HI, USA Wasabi Tours Hawaii
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4.9 based on 273 reviews

See three of the Big Island’s famous waterfalls — Hiilawe Falls, Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls — on this tour to the Waipio Valley and Hamakua Coast. Discover the island’s phenomenal natural beauty as you experience a variety of terrain. Learn about the history and legends of the island from a guide, and swim at a private waterfall. Lunch, snacks and hotel transport are included. This tour is limited to 12 people to provide a small-group experience.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Bottled water, Lunch, All taxes, fees and handling charges, Luxury Mercedes Sprinter Van Transportation, Small-group tour lead by a professional guide

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By Stay438177

This was a very informative tour . Our guide Derek was so knowledgeable of both local and historical information. He kept everyone hands on inter active. Great personality and sense of humor. Definitely recommend layers of clothing, you will experience several climate changes. Sunny flip flops, rain, windy cold and hiking shoes. You won’t be sorry you over packed. Light lunch at the Bay View Coffee Farm had amazing views . You will never be as close to an active volcano ever again. My favorite was the Black Sand / Turtle Beach,so beautiful, and the Lava Tube. The diner at Lava Rock is outstanding. Definitely recommend this tour however it is a full day.

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